The use of the boundary element
method (BEM) is explored as an alternative to the finite element method (FEM)
solution methodology for the elliptic equations used to model the generation
and transport of fluorescent light in highly scattering media, without the need
for an internal volume mesh. The method is appropriate for domains where it is
reasonable to assume the fluorescent properties are regionally homogeneous, such
as when using highly-specific molecularly targeted fluorescent contrast agents
in biological tissues. In comparison to analytical results on a homogeneous
sphere, BEM predictions of complex emission fluence are shown to be more
accurate and stable than those of the FEM. Emission fluence predictions made
with the BEM using a 708-node mesh, with roughly double the inter-node spacing
of boundary nodes as in a 6956-node FEM mesh, match experimental
frequency-domain fluorescence emission measurements acquired on a 1087 cm³
breast-mimicking phantom as well as those of the FEM, but require only 1/8 to
1/2 the computation time.